By Pam Brown, GP and Editor-in-Chief of Diabetes & Primary Care
The recent update to the familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) NICE guideline (CG71) advises that healthcare professionals should suspect FH in people with a total cholesterol level greater than 7.5 mmol/L and/or a personal or family history of premature coronary heart disease (an event before 60 years of age in the index individual or first-degree relative). People with FH who are intolerant of statins should be referred to a specialist for initiation of other therapy.
A new recommendation cross-referring to the Technology Appraisal guidance on alirocumab (TA393) and evolocumab (TA394) has also been added. Nicotinic acid no longer has a UK licence, and therefore it has been removed from the guideline recommendations.
Click here to access the full guideline (external content).